Belt buckle

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a belt buckle, comprising two buckle members fastened on belt ends, the first ( 1 ) of said members having a receiving compartment ( 6 ) in which the second buckle member ( 2 ) is axially inserted. Said second buckle member comprises snap-fit members that are adjusted against a spring force and that interact with undercuts in the first buckle member to secure the fitted buckle members ( 1,2 ). The inventive belt buckle is further characterized in that the buckle members consist of cast metal and that the snap-fit members are impinged upon by at least one mechanical return spring.

[0001] The invention relates to a belt buckle that is comprised of twobuckle members that can be secured to belt ends, with the first bucklemember having a receiving means for the axial insertion of the secondbuckle member, which contains latching or snap-fit elements that areadjustable against spring force and that, to secure the inter-engagingbuckle members, cooperate with undercuts in the first buckle member.

[0002] Such belt buckles are conventionally made of plastic, whereby thesnap-fit elements of the second buckle member essentially have the shapeof tongues, whereby the spring force, depending upon the material, isrespectively a function of the plastic that is used.

[0003] The drawback of such plastic belt buckles is that they can breakunder abrupt shocks.

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide a belt bucklethat is improved in this respect.

[0005] To realize this object, the buckle members are made of castmetal, whereby the snap-fit elements are pivotable about a rigid axis,and are supported by a mechanical spring, preferably a compressionspring.

[0006] The buckle members are preferably made of cast brass or castzinc, and have a surface that is processed or finished by shot hardeningand subsequent galvanization.

[0007] The invention will be described in greater detail subsequentlywith the aid of the drawing.

[0008]FIG. 1 shows a side view of the two buckle members, which can beinserted into one another in the direction of the arrow f1;

[0009]FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the two buckle members;

[0010]FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the two inter-engaging buckle members.

[0011] Each buckle member is provided at its back end with an eye orloop like opening 3 and 4 respectively for the securement of the bucklemembers 1 and 2 to the belt ends 5 that are schematically illustrated inFIG. 1. The buckle member 1 is provided with a receiving chamber 6 thatis open toward the front end of the buckle member and that is delimitedby upper and lower wall portions 7 and 8 as well as side walls 9 and 10.Pursuant to FIG. 2, the upper and lower wall portions 7 and 8 areprovided with aligned cutouts or notches 11 and 12 respectively.

[0012] The dimensions of the second buckle member 2 are coordinated withthe first buckle member 1 in such a way that the second buckle membercan be inserted or pushed into the receiving chamber 6 of the firstbuckle member, and it accordingly comprises a tongue-like main body 13to which are articulated or coupled two latching or snap-fit elements14,15 in such a way that when the buckle member 2 is inserted into thebuckle member 1, the snap-fit elements can pivot inwardly. As soon asthe snap-fit elements 14 and 15 enter the notches 11,12, they are movedor pivoted outwardly by the (not illustrated) compression spring thatacts upon them, so that their rearwardly facing corners 14.1 and 15.1come to rest against the side wall portions 9 and 10 that are located inthe front portion of the buckle member 1. These side wall portions 9 and10 thus essentially have the function of undercuts behind which thecorners 14.1 and 15.1 catch.

[0013] To release the buckle, the snap-fit elements 14 and 15 aremanually pressed inwardly in a direction of the arrow f2, so that therear corners 14.1 and 15.1 are released from the undercuts.

[0014] The inventive buckle members are preferably made of die castbrass or sand cast brass or of die cast zinc. The outer surfaces arepreferably finished by shot hardening and subsequent galvanization. Thegalvanization is preferably carried out in a nickel or brass bath. Inthe event that the galvanization is effected in a chromium bath, agalvanic copper plating preferably takes place first.

1. Belt buckle, comprising two buckle members that can be secured tobelt ends, of which the first (1) is provided with a receiving chamber(6) for the axial insertion of the second buckle member (2), whichcontains snap-fit elements (14,15) that are displaceable against springforce and that, to secure the buckle members (1,2) that are inserted inone another, cooperate with undercuts in the first buckle member,characterized in that the buckle members are made of cast metal, and thesnap-fit elements (14,15) are under the influence of at least onemechanical return spring.
 2. Belt buckle according to claim 1,characterized in that the buckle members (1,2) are made of cast brass.3. Belt buckle according to claim 1, characterized in that the bucklemembers (1,2) are made of cast zinc.
 4. Belt buckle according to claim 2or 3, characterized in that the buckle members (1,2) have a surface thatis processed by shot hardening and subsequent galvanization.
 5. Beltbuckle according to claim 4, characterized in that the buckle members(1,2) have a surface processed by galvanization in a nickel bath. 6.Belt buckle according to claim 4, characterized in that the bucklemembers (1,2) have a surface processed by galvanization in a brass bath.7. Belt buckle according to claim 4, characterized in that the bucklemembers (1,2) have a surface processed by copper plating and subsequentgalvanization in a chromium bath.
 8. Belt buckle according to claim 1,characterized in that the snap-fit elements (14,15) are supported by atleast one compression spring.